Wichita eagle., 1887-11-22

the wall of the city. The Episcopal
church ranks high. having at last secured
Bishop: OF course it is fostered by the
English government, but in the way of
schools and hospitals Is DONG good
work.
The schools of Jerusalem are
numerous and as near as / can learn re-
ceive much support from abroad Al
most every denomination has Its separate
institution, some of which are merely
the nurseries of their patron church. L
noticed yesterday a long file of lads
dressed in European costumes accom-
panied by their tutor, reminding me
much Of similar sights in England. This
was Jewish school. Today | passed a
school-room crowded with barefooted
Youngsters all seated on the floor with
| little shovel-shaped boards IN their hands
on which was inscribed their lessons.
The tutor was also seated on the floor
with red fez on his head. This was the
Arabic school.
Near by was a court of law which l had
the temerity to enter and witness the
Moslems dispense with justice. The
three Judges were natives and looked as
wise as township justice OF the peace.
There was little novelty IN their pro-
ceedings. and | walked across an Ill
smelling court yard where the supreme
court was in sitting. At least inferred
it was supreme, for l noticed barrlsterS
and all others taking OF their shoes
those who wore any-and putting on
slippers. | looked in at the door ana
noticed only the presiding Judge. patrl-
archal looking man who sat cross-legSed
on divan, wearing the inevitable tur-
ban. The Moslems say we begin every
thing at the wrong side. For example,
as mark of respect or reverence we
take off the hat. They uncover the re-
verse end by taking OFF. the shoes. We
write from left to right. They reverse the
order again and write from right TO left.
| Our consul tells me that he finds bat few
/ brainy men amongst them. He describes
I them as athletes physically and as dwarts
mentally. He says our missionaries all
dislike them, but for his part ne naturally
| loves them. They are kndhearted and
obliging. patient and good humOred, and
| in many respects resemble the Irish on
! their native boys.
/ was introduced to the Sheik or Chief
! tain of powerful band of BedOuins, who
roam the country beyond the Jordan. He
was dressed in rough attlre-well, when
| come to think of it, 1t would not be
! truthful TO say he was dressed at all. for
| the Bedouins this time OF the year appear
principally in the fig-leaf costume. How
| ever, he wore a turban and carried a gun
and his thigh was adorned by cruel
looking long handled knife, but he was
the personlficatlon OF all that
my preconceived ideas of a
chieftain of the seed of Lhmael
ought to be: tail and as straight as pine,
broad shouldered, brawny and with a fist
that would fell an OK, dark skinned,
Drowned eyed and bearded Like pard-
/ if you know what that is. for | dom t.
He remarked that it was warm day. al
least | inferred that from the way IN
which he wiped the sweet from his brow,
| agreed with him wrung his hand and
promised to see him later. [ would not
care to meet him alone on the sands OF
the desert.
Ny dragoman says the father of this
Sheik is living at the age of one hundred
and fifteen years. Moses of the same
seed of Abraham was hale and hearty
when at the age of one hundred and
twenty stood on mount NebO in plain
view of lions hill from whence l write
this, and colored his earthly career, but
not by reason of old age. | am told that
these Bedouins often reach the age OF
Moses before being buried with their
fathers.
Notwithstanding the air Of sanctity
that pervades this place am occasional
" under the delusion that | am in the
midst of military camp. Opposite the
south window of my room looms up the
grand citadel of David whose founda-
lions were laid thousands of years ago
Annexed to it is the Turkish barracks
and guard house. Every morning
the guards march by going
to their respective stations. The ''reville'
awakes me in the morning and ''tatoo'
and taps are blown in the evenings
with that degree of regularity that used
to make some of us tired. In the after
noon the band plays. When discoursine
Turkish music we are delighted with It's
novelty. but when they attempt foreign
air the effect on ones nerves is equalled
only by Wichita band at practice. The
Turkish soldier is we'll formed and OF
good height-far above the rank and file
of either the French or Italian armies
Their uniform at this season consists of a
greyish blue cotton sack coat and trous
ers on the European plan" with the
fez for a headgear. On guard, they
: present anything but a soldierly appear
, ance. I heard an English officer laugh
) ing at one of the guards today who laid
, down his gun, and slipping off n boo
) went on a voyage of discovery after al
: aggressive flea The poor wretches ar,
, paid little or nothing, and the officer.
, are not much better off, receiving fol
their services paper currency which the
( government refuses to redeem and the
| mon ey shayers viii discount only by
| coaXing at so per cent. The prinCipa
, duty of the Turkish soldier stationed a
Jerusalem seems TO be. to keep peace be
t tween the contending factions OF chris
tians at the holy places.
, At the Church of the Nativity. only
| fourteen feet from the manager where on
Savior was born. | observed a soldier OF
| guard. and on asking why he was sta
= stationed there of all other places in til,
world. was told, ITO keep the peace be
| tween the Latin. Greek, American an,
Copt worshippers. who, without sucf
: precaution being taken, would come q
: blows at the drop of hat. 1t has re
: o1ired armed interference more thai
= once TO separate these fanatics. Til
} KEYS of the Holy Sepulchre. where eacl
l have a chapel, are in the custody of tw,
> or three Moslem sheiks. VII
= occupy divan near the main entrance
{ We were told that in Palestin
? any epicurean propensities O: ours in tn
: way Of variety Of food would be sub
! iected to q serious denial. We confess {.
: a disappointment in being deprived Of ic
5 and as for butter-well Alexandria dc
stroved our taste for that, so that "
: have been forced TO seek the acquaint
arrs4 Of dry bread